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A second top prosecutor is to step aside from making key decisions on possible charges over the Hillsborough disaster - to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

Last month the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alison Saunders, stood down from the criminal investigation entirely after her appointment came under fire from campaign groups.

Hillsborough families had said her involvement was inappropriate after it emerged that in 1996 she had rejected pleas for a fresh inquest into the disaster.

The original inquests have since been quashed by the High Court, with two new criminal investigations launched since the publication of last year's Hillsborough Independent Panel's report.

Peter Lewis, chief executive officer at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), was appointed in Ms Saunders' stead.

But Mr Lewis has now decided to delegate decisions on whether West Midlands Police should face prosecution - though he will remain overall decision maker for the investigation.

He is stepping aside as he used to work as a prosecutor in the West Midlands.

The announcement came after families' representatives raised concerns over Mr Lewis' past at a meeting with current DPP Keir Starmer and members of the investigation teams.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said: "It pleases us to know that he won't be making any decisions over West Midlands Police, because of the role he had played in the past.

"That was our concern when we found out and it's nice to know we have been listened to."

A CPS spokesman said: "Although no conflict of interest has been identified, out of an abundance of caution, Peter Lewis has decided to recuse himself from decisions involving West Midlands Police.

"He will remain the overall decision maker for the vast majority of work arising from these investigations.

"Where he is not involved, the decision maker will be Sue Hemming, the Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism."

Mr Lewis' decision comes after Walton MP Mr Rotheram wrote to Attorney General Dominic Grieve asking what impact the decision of Alison Saunders not to be involved in the criminal investigation was likely to have on the prospect of bringing criminal charges against police, Sheffield city council, the FA, Hillsborough owners Sheffield Wednesday FC and others currently being investigated.

Mr Rotheram also asked for an explanation why Ms Saunders, who takes up her new role as DPP in November, was appointed in the first place.

And Mrs Aspinall said: "If they had done their job properly they would have checked everybody before giving them that position. It's ridiculous we have to keep doing it for them."